It’s the most re-cycle-ing time of the year!
Yup. There is no doubt the Holiday Season “presents” us all with one of the biggest recycling opportunities of the entire year. With all the gifts, wrapping paper, cards — and even the tree — there is a lot of stuff to “re-gift” to our earth and the future, rather than tossing it into the trash and our landfills.
With that in mind, the County’s Department of Public Works has a gift for all to share, some tips on what to recycle and how to do it right!
CHRISTMAS TREES
Our Christmas trees are beautiful, but if you’re using a real tree, we eventually have to let them go. There are a couple of ways you can recycle it the right way. You can place them in your curbside organic waste (green) bin provided by your waste hauler. But, remember to remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel, tree stands, bags and netting. And ensure they are cut in half with pieces no longer than four feet in length.
You can also go to the County’s recycling and hazardous waste database, WastefreeSD. org, to find Christmas tree dropoff sites near you. It’s easy. Type “Christmas tree” in the “find an item” box, add your ZIP code, community and how you heard about the site, and you’ll see all the drop-off locations near you. Recycling our natural trees is important. Properly recycled trees and wreaths are turned into mulch that will improve soil health and help soil retain moisture at our parks, farms, home gardens and landscapes.
Recycling them also keeps them from going into the trash where they can unnecessarily fill up landfills and generate unwanted climate-changing greenhouse gases as they decompose. Finally, remember, never leave your old dry tree or wreaths lying in the backyard where they can become dangerous fire hazards.
KNOW WHAT PACKAGING CAN — AND CAN NOT — BE RECYCLED
Online shopping and gift giving typically means lots of packaging and a lot of stuff to recycle. But remember this: not all packaging can be recycled. For example, cardboard boxes and kraft paper can be recycled (just break them down and put them in your blue recycling bin). But other items can’t — manila envelopes, padded plastic mailers, bubble-wrap and traditional gift-wrapping materials including metallic wrapping paper, wrapping paper with glitter, ribbons, bows, twine, tissue paper and cellophane. So please DO NOT put them in your blue recycling bins; consider re-using them instead. Here’s a link to learn more about how to Recycle Right, during the holidays and every day.
CHRISTMAS AND HOLIDAY CARD RECYCLING
Like packaging materials, not all holiday cards should be added to your recycling. Simple paper cards and envelopes can be added to your blue bins. But cards that have glitter, foil, metallic ink (inks made with tiny metal flakes) or other adornments can’t. If there’s a glitzy front and plain paper backing, tear the cards in half. Recycle the backs and put the glitzy fronts into the trash.
Holiday Light Recycling
Please — DO NOT put old holiday lights in your recycling bins. They tangle up recycling equipment, and they also pose a danger to workers in those recycling centers. For recycling options, please visit WasteFreeSD. org, or contact a scrap metal or e-waste recycler.
So, there you have it. Remember, if you have other questions about what can and can’t be recycled, go to DPW Recycling’s webpage or to DPW Recycling’s Facebook page.
